Manufacturers Resource Center

Manufacturers Resource Center, commonly referred to as MRC, is an industrial consulting organization based at 7200A Windsor Drive in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The center works with small and mid-size manufacturers across eastern Pennsylvania, providing consulting engagements, structured training courses, and technical assistance intended to improve productivity, quality, workforce capability, and business growth. It functions as a nonprofit resource rather than a conventional for-profit consultancy, and its work is tied to the broader national effort to strengthen domestic manufacturing competitiveness through the Manufacturing Extension Partnership network.

The organization has served the Lehigh Valley and surrounding counties for more than three decades, with roots reaching back to the late 1980s, a period when regional manufacturers were adapting to global competition and to the decline of several large legacy employers in the area. That long presence has made MRC a familiar name among plant managers, operations leaders, and human resources staff at manufacturing firms throughout the region.

Consulting and Technical Services

MRC's consulting work covers the operational and strategic areas most commonly faced by manufacturers with limited internal staff to handle them. Typical areas of engagement include:

• Continuous improvement and lean manufacturing, including value stream mapping, setup reduction, cellular layout, 5S workplace organization, and waste elimination on the production floor
• Quality management systems, including preparation for and maintenance of ISO 9001 and related industry-specific standards, along with internal audit practices and corrective action processes
• Operational assessments that examine throughput, scheduling, capacity constraints, inventory levels, and cost drivers
• Growth and innovation support, such as market research, product development planning, and strategies for entering new customer segments or export markets
• Technology evaluation and adoption, covering automation, data collection, enterprise systems, and the incremental steps smaller plants can take toward digital manufacturing
• Supply chain work, including supplier development, sourcing alternatives, and reshoring analysis
• Cybersecurity readiness and compliance guidance, an increasingly common need among suppliers serving defense and aerospace customers
• Leadership and organizational development for owners, plant managers, and newly promoted supervisors

Engagements generally begin with an assessment of the client's current operations and goals, followed by a scoped project carried out with the company's own employees so that improvements remain in place after the consultant's involvement ends. Because MRC is part of a publicly supported network, its services are often available at rates below those of private consulting firms, and staff can point manufacturers toward state and federal funding programs, workforce grants, and training reimbursement opportunities that may offset project costs.

Training and Professional Development

A substantial portion of MRC's activity involves open enrollment courses and customized on-site training. Course catalogs typically span several categories: supervisory and frontline leadership skills, communication and conflict resolution, project management, problem solving and root cause analysis, lean and Six Sigma methodologies including green belt and black belt tracks, quality tools, blueprint reading and shop math, and computer and business software skills. Certification preparation courses, such as those in quality auditing or supply chain management, are also part of the mix.

Training is designed for employees at multiple levels, from machine operators and technicians to mid-level managers and executives. Sessions are held at the Allentown facility, delivered on site at client plants, and in some cases offered in virtual or hybrid formats. Instructors are generally practitioners with industry backgrounds rather than academic lecturers, and curriculum tends to be built around exercises, simulations, and examples drawn from real production environments.

Events, Peer Groups, and Regional Networking

MRC hosts seminars, workshops, roundtables, and annual events that bring manufacturers together to discuss shared challenges. Peer groups and executive forums allow owners and senior managers from noncompeting companies to compare practices in areas such as recruitment, automation investment, and succession planning. The center also participates in and helps organize regional manufacturing conferences and awards programs that recognize achievement among area companies and individuals. For many attendees, these gatherings serve as a practical way to meet suppliers, benchmark operations, and stay current on regulatory and technology developments affecting the sector.

Workforce Pipeline and Student Outreach

Beyond services for existing employers, MRC devotes attention to the long-term supply of skilled workers in the region. It coordinates programs that connect middle and high school students with local manufacturers, including a student-produced video competition in which teams tour plants and create short films about what they observe, and initiatives that place teams of manufacturing professionals in front of classrooms and career events. These efforts are carried out in cooperation with school districts, career and technical education centers, workforce boards, community colleges, and employer sponsors. The aim is to correct outdated perceptions of factory work and to make students and parents aware of technical careers available close to home.

Location and Service Area

The center is located in the Iron Run area of Upper Macungie Township, a corridor of office and industrial buildings west of Allentown with convenient access to Interstate 78, Route 222, and Route 100. The site offers on-site parking. The building includes a wheelchair accessible entrance and wheelchair accessible parking, making classroom sessions and meetings available to visitors with mobility needs. Meeting and training rooms at the facility are used for scheduled courses and events throughout the year.

While the Lehigh Valley, including Lehigh and Northampton counties, forms the core of its territory, MRC's field staff travel to client sites across a wider portion of eastern Pennsylvania, including Berks, Carbon, Monroe, Schuylkill, and neighboring counties. Clients range from small family-owned job shops with a handful of employees to established manufacturers with several hundred workers, spanning metal fabrication, plastics, food and beverage, packaging, electronics, medical devices, chemicals, and industrial equipment.

Practical Information

• Address: 7200A Windsor Drive, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18106
• Telephone: +1 610-628-4640
• Website: www.mrcpa.org, where course schedules, event registration, and service descriptions are posted
• Accessibility: wheelchair accessible entrance and parking lot

Manufacturers interested in consulting support typically begin with a phone or email inquiry, followed by an introductory meeting or plant visit to determine which services and funding options fit the company's situation. Individuals seeking professional development can review the published training calendar and register for open enrollment sessions directly, and employers can request customized versions of most courses for delivery at their own facilities.